President Jacob Zuma must repair the damage he has done to the fight against HIV/Aids, DA leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.
She was responding to Zuma's apology over his love child with Sonono Khoza.
"Zuma must now match words with deeds ... The Democratic Alliance welcomes President Zuma's apology to the South African public. But words are not enough, he must now focus on repairing the damage he has done to the fight against HIV/Aids," she said.
"It is worth recalling that Jacob Zuma has apologised in exactly these terms before. He must show that his deeds match his words. Leadership is as leadership does".
She said the South African public would not be so forgiving next time around.
'Humility, integrity'
The African National Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions also welcomed Zuma's apology, describing it as honest.
"This is the president's own initiative, and it demonstrates his humility and integrity," Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said.
"The majority of South Africans will reciprocate this by giving him the benefit of the doubt. It is good that the president realises that he erred and did not seek to take our people for granted. The apology was the right thing to do," he said.
The ANC, meanwhile, said it appreciated the president's apology regarding his personal relationships.
The Mail&Guardian
